Couture Glorious Couture

ONE day in and already, as expected, our hearts are aflutter from the couture creations we've seen in Paris from Alexis Mabille and John Galliano for Christian Dior. Yesterday Mabille - who last week showcased his first solo menswear show in Paris - gave us a delicious pastel palette of peach, gold, aqua, powder pink and eggshell blue all wrapped up in ribbons, bows and feathers which trailed like party streamers from the front of tuxedos and the most feminine of sheer and lace-laden frocks. At Dior, Galliano opted for understated elegance - at least in his couture terms. Emphasis was on what lies beneath with stockings seducing almost every look amid a zinging colour palette of magenta, raspberry, lemon and scarlet. There weren't so many of the protruding skirts and froufrou extravagances we saw from his spring/summer 2009 collection, instead less - a black fifties pointed bra - was more - worn with a contrasting neon, coral orange skirt.

Beginning the proceedings this morning is Armani Prive (where it's rumoured Cate Blanchett and Mgean Fox will be among the attendees), followed by Lacroix - which, according to WWD this morning, is now currently undergoing a restructuring plan which could see the workforce cut from 124 to 12, following the fashion house's recent financial struggles (read about it here). Givenchy and Chanel will take to the couture stage this afternoon.